LETTER
Arts Festival Is Essence of Economic Development
August 18, 2014
DEAR EDITOR,
It is with much praise and gratitude that I express my sincere appreciation for the event “Harbor for the Arts” in Cape Charles August 1-17. As the second annual event, this arts festival deserves great acclaim. Not only has our cultural arts organization Arts Enter Cape Charles demonstrated expertise in grant and sponsorship funding, it has also proved to the world that our community has one of the premier cultural arts centers in the nation if not the world.
Performances and exhibitions took place over a two week period using venues that represented the best private and public assets of the Town of Cape Charles and her surrounding environs. Street performances, bands under pavilions on the park and at the beach, concerts and films in our beautifully restored historic theater, entertainers gathering audiences on the sidewalks, a multi-media dance production in a classic 150-year-old equestrian barn overlooking the seaside sounds and islands, and more — wherever one turned during these two weeks the cultural arts permeated our living space here in Cape Charles. How blessed this writer felt to be living and working in such an incredibly talented community!
Arts Enter Cape Charles deserves all of the support our community can possibly give — through attendance, financial gifts, sponsorships and volunteer participation. This dedicated group colors our community with excellence in the arts, offering instruction in the performing and visual arts as well as amazing performances that educate, entertain and thrill her audiences. This is the essence of economic development: establishing our community as a center of the arts and education, improving our reputation and attracting new growth and business to our region.
Thank you to Arts Enter Cape Charles for enriching our lives and lifting our souls!
DAVID L. KABLER
Machipongo
Letters to the Editor are welcome, and a diversity of opinions is encouraged. Send submissions to [email protected].
What DK said. It was a great couple of weeks and thanks to everyone who made it so!
“Arts Enter Cape Charles has proved to the world that our community has one of the premier cultural arts centers in the nation if not the world.” REALLY?…the world? Maybe the Baldwins can build a “Cultural Museum” in the harbor next to their “Premier Yacht Nightmare.”
Let’s agree that, for the performing arts, this Arts Enter event created some Southeastern Virginia visibility for the local performing arts community, and possibly some resonance beyond, as weekly renters might chat about it in the Quebec countryside, for instance. A comparison with events of regional prominence, such as the Charleston Spoleto, is a very big stretch, even after Spoleto’s political missteps and the event’s subsequent decline. With more dedication, support, and the inclusion of the “nonperforming” arts, Harbor for the Arts might gain some tread and more visibility in the future. But this means community appreciation and support of this event, with many thanks to the organizers and, indeed, to the Baldwins for their contribution (the above comment is unwarranted and detrimental to our community spirit and aspirations).
Well said Dana. One thing worth noting is that I’m not sure folks realize how much hard work, and how many hours Mary Ann Rohem, Michael Flannagan, Clelia Shepherd and all the volunteers have put into this event. Now that it’s over, they may take a week or two for a breather, but work for next year will begin right away. Art and beauty is not free — the number-one prerequisite is dedication and hard work, sometimes the hardest work, full of frustrations, insecurity, and even just plain fear. We all do it because we truly believe in the Arts Enter mission and what it means to Cape Charles. Remember, we’re just getting started. The HFA is great now, and it will only get better and better.
I have always opposed the Southport boatworks project (although I have supported Webtide and the Oyster project), but seeing how Eyre graciously opened his doors (and pocketbook) for such a grand event I may even give the Yacht Center a temporary hall pass. Thanks also to Bill Paar, Brown Dog, Wendell Distributing, and the other businesses that helped support HFA in so many ways.
As Mr. Kabler noted, the HFA is creating a model of civic/public-private partnership that may not just create economic development, but may also serve as a model for addressing some of our most delicate issues, such as conservation, preservation, the environment, and development. The exciting thing is we’re just getting started, and given the groundwork Ms. Rohem and Ms. Shepherd have already laid, the sky is the limit.